Unlike Li Kuanghua, that boy Li Chang'an... he was even more composed than Li Wei had anticipated.
The boy had grown up in a small fishing village, yet his mind was exceptionally keen. Even the Wine Maniac, squatting there disguised as a beggar, was still discovered by him.
In the unfamiliar land of Spirit Province, over the course of more than a hundred years, Li Chang'an had methodically, step by step, brought the entire Spirit Continent Imperial Dynasty to ruin.
However, Li Wei rarely focused on Li Chang'an. The boy was too unflappable; every time Li Wei checked in on him in Spirit Continent, he was either bathing or, like a proud bird, preening his own feathers, handling every matter with unhurried precision.
Take now, for instance...
Within the Aeternus Sect, Li Chang'an had indeed become one of its disciples. He was now immaculately dressed, cultivating alongside the other members of the sect.
The Aeternus Sect consisted of thirteen mountains.
Each mountain had its own Mountain Lord, and on each, a distinct set of techniques was cultivated.
Twelve of these mountains stood guard around the central Aeternus Immortal Mountain, and Li Chang'an resided on one of these twelve.
Li Chang'an was exceedingly low-key and followed the rules meticulously.
After completing his training on the mountain, he would quietly return to his cave-dwelling to continue his cultivation in seclusion.
Half a year passed, and the people of the Aeternus Sect had all but forgotten he even existed. All they remembered was an inner sect disciple who was obsessed with cleanliness to an extreme degree.
He did absolutely nothing of note.
He was so low-key, in fact, that even the Sect Master of the Aeternus Sect, Daoist Mingtai, couldn't resist seeking him out.
Just look at the information on this panel.
[Your descendant, Li Chang'an, after bathing repeatedly, has acquired the trait: Cleanliness Expert.]
[While bathing, his mind is exceptionally clear.]
...
[Your descendant, Li Chang'an, after organizing his clothes and arranging everything in his room with meticulous order, has acquired the trait: Obsessive-Compulsive.]
[Must attend to every detail; Observation +20.]
No wonder he was able to serve as a law enforcer in Eternal Sun Prefecture.
...
On Aeternus Immortal Mountain, inside the grand hall.
Sect Master Daoist Mingtai sat upon a cattail cushion.
Behind him stood the statue of an immortal, and around his meditation spot, a shimmering spiritual liquid trickled past before vanishing into thin air.
Li Chang'an bowed towards Daoist Mingtai.
"Disciple Li Chang'an," he said, "pays his respects to the Sect Master."
"Chang'an," he said, "come closer."
Daoist Mingtai frowned and waved a hand at Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an gave a slight nod, but as he levitated toward the center of the hall, he suddenly paused mid-air.
To the visible twitching of Daoist Mingtai's facial muscles, he flew over to the channel of flowing spiritual liquid. With a solemn expression, he channeled his spiritual power to mend a disorderly section of the array.
Only after it was fixed did a look of complete satisfaction spread across his face.
...
Daoist Mingtai's face darkened further as Li Chang'an walked right up to him, noticing that the cattail cushion was slightly misaligned with the center of the spiritual array.
He then proceeded to shift both the Sect Master and the cushion together, moving them into perfect alignment.
Only after that did he earnestly sit down cross-legged before him.
For some unknown reason, Daoist Mingtai felt his Dao Heart begin to waver, and he was suddenly struck with the urge to bully this junior a little.
But in the end, Daoist Mingtai restrained himself.
He said in a deep voice, "Chang'an, by my calculation, you have been here at our Aeternus Sect for half a year..."
Scarcely had he finished speaking.
Li Chang'an frowned and interrupted him.
"Sect Master, that is incorrect," he said. "To be precise, it has been one hundred and eighty-six days and 6 hours, which is already more than half a year."
Daoist Mingtai fell silent for a moment. "Chang'an," he said, "go and close the door."
Li Chang'an glanced at Daoist Mingtai's expression and said in a grave voice.
"This disciple is aware that the Sect Master wishes to beat him. This is perfectly normal. Back in my clan, whenever my Great-Granduncle was about to beat me, he would do exactly as the Sect Master had, and tell me to close the door. At those times, I could call to the heavens and shout to the earth, but no help would come. Please rest assured, Sect Master. This disciple will not fall for such a trick a second time."
"I..."
"Besides," he added, "I trust that the Sect Master did not summon this disciple here simply for a beating. Am I wrong?"
In that moment.
Daoist Mingtai wanted to kill someone.
The young disciple before him was still waxing eloquent.
"This disciple surmises," he said, "that the Sect Master has summoned me to inquire about my reasons for joining the Aeternus Sect. The Imperial Dynasty is in turmoil, relations between the Duravia Trade Prefecture and my own Eternal Sun Prefecture have soured, and dark undercurrents are surging. What this disciple hopes to achieve by coming to the Aeternus Sect... well, that should be obvious to anyone."
"And yet, for the better part of a year, this disciple has made no move, nor has he even taken the initiative to open negotiations with you, Sect Master. You must be growing impatient."
Daoist Mingtai let out a long, ragged sigh through his nostrils.
"I am not impatient," he bit out.
Li Chang'an didn't call his bluff.
He continued, "As the master of an entire sect, it is only natural for you to be impatient. The world is in great chaos; any power, no matter how great, can be reduced to dust in the grand scheme of things. Even masters at the Void Refining realm live in fear of being schemed against, and there are countless ways for the weak to overcome the strong.
If Eternal Sun Prefecture and Duravia Trade Prefecture were to go to war, who's to say which other factions might be caught in the crossfire and suffer for it?"
Daoist Mingtai narrowed his eyes.
"Brat from the Li Clan," he growled, "what could you possibly know?!!"
"Please control your temper, Sect Master," Li Chang'an advised. "You mustn't allow your mind to fall into disarray."
Li Chang'an smiled faintly. That smiling face of his, having inherited the handsome features of Li Kuangtu, made Daoist Mingtai itch to smash his fist right into it.
"This disciple heard from his clansmen that the disciples of the Aeternus Sect support Prince Qian and intend to rebel," he began.
"They also said that the Supreme Elder, Daoist Puci, supports him as well. Quite a formidable power Prince Qian has gathered at his side. My clansmen all said that there was no point in even trying to lobby the Aeternus Sect."
Li Chang'an observed Daoist Mingtai's deeply furrowed brow and smiled.
"But the moment this disciple set foot in the Aeternus Sect," he said, "I knew there was still a chance. At the very least, I knew that you, Sect Master, were unwilling to let the Aeternus Sect take such a risk."
"How could you possibly know?"
Gazing at the young man's unruffled demeanor, Daoist Mingtai had to admit he was impressed.
The boy had a profound insight into the hearts of men. It was just a pity he was clearly in need of more beating.
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